Does the World Really need more Golf Courses?
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Donald Trump says the wind farm threatens to blow his dream
of a 'global golf destination' off course. Photograph: Murdo Macleod in
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Yes I know today's post was supposed to be about oceans and they are
definitely in the news, so much so that I am still reading about them and haven’t had time to write. While
you are waiting for that one, I‘m just going to have another cheap shot at Golf Courses which are not only proliferating in many parts of the world, but are also appropriating the commons. I might have to change my job description from Practising
Geographer to Professional Whinger* [students not familar with this term are advised to look at the end of the post].
Donald Trumped
Billionaire property developer, Donald Trump is not a happy
camper. He wanted to build another large golf course next to one he has already
built on the Scottish Coast near Aberdeen, but the site is earmarked for a wind
farm. Now Donald has threatened to use his wealth to support groups which
oppose wind farms and use any legal means at his disposal to stop it.
As Pia writes on the Care2 website
"In a land swimming with
golf courses, Trump is going to build two more – alongside a 450-room hotel and
1,500 luxury homes. The trouble is, the land he has purchased occupies one of
Europe’s most environmentally sensitive stretches of coast, described by one
leading scientist as Scotland’s Amazon rain forest.”
However the Scottish Government refuses to be bullied. In an
article by Severin Carrell in the BBC News on February 23rd Niall
Stuart, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, is reported to have said:
"Decisions over Scotland's energy and
economic policy are for the democratically-elected government of Scotland, not
billionaire American businessmen sitting in New York"
Apparently the Scots think so too, so now there is a
petition to prevent Donald Trump speaking at a forthcoming energy conference. Sorry Donald, “You’re Fired!”
There is also one asking Donald to Support Windpower in Scotland Petition
There is also one asking Donald to Support Windpower in Scotland Petition
Now I am all for rich people getting a bit of exercise and
fresh air, some really do look as if they need it, just like the rest of us, but
do they really need to do it by setting up their exclusive little clubs in some
of the last few remaining wild places, especially when this is much needed to
put us on a more sustainable course.
Meanwhile, in another part of the UK...
Over the water, the Irish are also fighting the
establishment of a Golf Club at the Giant’s Causeway, a notable historic site and
tourist attraction in Northern Ireland. The following quote comes from the Care2 site.
“The Giant's Causeway, a stretch of bizarre volcanic rock formations,
is one of Ireland's top tourist attractions. Situated at the very top of
Northern Ireland, thousands of tourists a year visit the Giant's Causeway for
the wild scenery and the mysterious hexagonal rocks.
Friends of the Earth and the National Trust have condemned the proposals, with FoE's Northern Ireland director likening it to "building a drive-through burger bar at the Taj Mahal.”
Friends of the Earth and the National Trust have condemned the proposals, with FoE's Northern Ireland director likening it to "building a drive-through burger bar at the Taj Mahal.”
Sign their petition here
Other Rich People
Behaving Badly
In Australia, things
just aren’t going as they should for our own überrich underclass either.
They too have been throwing their not inconsiderable weight around because they
have not been getting things all their own way.
Having used their influence to overturn the mining tax and trying to
overturn the carbon tax, they are taking out full page advertisements and
taking much editorial space in what used be our newspapers to attack our TreasurerWayne Swan for pointing out that they were greedy “rent seekers” who put their own
interests ahead of the best interests of the country.
They claim they were only exercising their democratic rights
like any other citizen. I suppose it’s no use pointing out that not too many
other citizens can make enormous political donations or buy their own newspapers. Most
other citizens also pay their fair share of taxes. Judging by the comments not
too many people have fallen for it either.
Might I suggest that we all drop a note of support to Wayne
Swan, recently voted the World’s Best Treasurer for telling it
like it is. Here’s the address.
ministerial@treasury.gov.au
*For students of English, here is today’s word, courtesy of the Oxford Dictionary:
whinge Pronunciation: /wɪn(d)ʒ/
British informal
verb
(whinges, whingeing or whinging, whinged) [no object]
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